he character and coming of Christ. (1-4) The blessings of his
kingdom. (5-12) The prevalence of true religion. (13-17)
Unbelief and blindness reproved. (18-25)
Verses 1-4: This prophecy was fulfilled in Christ, (Mt 12:17). Let our
souls rely on him, and rejoice in him; then, for his sake, the
Father will be well-pleased with us. The Holy Spirit not only
came, but rested upon him, and without measure. He patiently
bore the contradiction of sinners. His kingdom is spiritual; he
was not to appear with earthly honours. He is tender of those
oppressed with doubts and fears, as a bruised reed; those who
are as smoking flax, as the wick of a lamp newly lighted, which
is ready to go out again. He will not despise them, nor lay upon
them more work or more suffering than they can bear. By a long
course of miracles and his resurrection, he fully showed the
truth of his holy religion. By the power of his gospel and grace
he fixes principles in the minds of men, which tend to make them
wise and just. The most distant nations wait for his law, wait
for his gospel, and shall welcome it. If we would make our
calling and election sure, and have the Father delight over us
for good, we must behold, hear, believe in, and obey Christ.
Verses 5-12: The work of redemption brings back man to the obedience he
owes to God as his Maker. Christ is the light of the world. And
by his grace he opens the understandings Satan has blinded, and
sets at liberty from the bondage of sin. The Lord has supported
his church. And now he makes new promises, which shall as
certainly be fulfilled as the old ones were. When the Gentiles
are brought into the church, he is glorified in them and by
them. Let us give to God those things which are his, taking heed
that we do not serve the creature more than the Creator.
Verses 13-17: The Lord will appear in his power and glory. He shall
cry, in the preaching of his word. He shall cry aloud in the
gospel woes, which must be preached with gospel blessings, to
awaken a sleeping world. He shall conquer by the power of his
Spirit. And those that contradict and blaspheme his gospel, he
shall put to silence and shame; and that which hinders its
progress shall be taken out of the way. To those who by nature
were blind, God will show the way to life and happiness by Jesus
Christ. They are weak in knowledge, but He will make darkness
light. They are weak in duty, but their way shall be plain.
Those whom God brings into the right way, he will guide in it.
This passage is a prophecy, and is also applicable to every
believer; for the Lord will never leave nor forsake them.
Verses 18-25: Observe the call given to this people, and the character
given of them. Multitudes are ruined for want of observing that
which they cannot but see; they perish, not through ignorance,
but carelessness. The Lord is well-pleased in the making known
his own righteousness. For their sins they were spoiled of all
their possessions. This fully came to pass in the destruction of
the Jewish nation. There is no resisting, nor escaping God's
anger. See the mischief sin makes; it provokes God to anger. And
those not humbled by lesser judgments, must expect greater.
Alas! how many professed Christians are blind as the benighted
heathen! While the Lord is well-pleased in saving sinners
through the righteousness of Christ he will also glorify his
justice, by punishing all proud despisers. Seeing God has poured
out his wrath on his once-favoured people, because of their
sins, let us fear, lest a promise being left us of entering into
his rest, any of us should be found to come short of it.
he character and coming of Christ. (1-4) The blessings of his
kingdom. (5-12) The prevalence of true religion. (13-17)
Unbelief and blindness reproved. (18-25)